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a the: thermonuclear. test scheduledfor.the: Autumn of.
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FaCTS BRARTIEG ON THS PROBLEM
1.
The United States has scheduled a large-scale test of the
feasibility of the thermonuclear reaction at the Eniwetok Proving
Grounds for November 1, 1952, or as soon thereafter as weather and
technical preparations permit.
.
This will not he 4 wenpons test.
The device. vill weigh in the neighborhood of 80 tons. Should the .
thermonuclear feasibility test he successful, the United otates
could be in a position to introduce thermonuclear weapons into the
stockpile, but only after approximately an 18-month delay. The
expected yield is in the neighborheed of 5 megatens with an u-
eortainty of about a factor of hl.
A large yicld fission test,
which may yicld 1/2 megaton, is scheduled to follow the thermonuclear test within about one week.
2.
On January 31, 1950 the President publicly directed th
3.
On iby oe, 1981, 2 press reloase by the United States
ftomic Ener gy Commission "ta continue to work on all forms of
atomic weapons, including the so-calicd hydrogen or suver—homh.!!
this decisicn me ant that the United Spates itemic Encrgy Commission
ag to covormne the Feasibility of the thermenuclear reaction.
tho rate and scale cf effort in this field was, by separate classified Prosidential dircetive, to be detcrmined jointly by the Atomic
nergy Commissicn end the Department of Defense.
-itomic Energy Commissicn on the GREENHOUSE tests had the following
to say regarding thermonuclear developments: "In furtherance of
the President's announcenent cf January 31, 1950, the test propran
included experiments ecntributing to thermonuclear weapons research,"
On June 16, 1952, Chairman Dean of the Atomic, Energy Comaission, in
response to 4 questicn hefore the House spercpriations Committee,
stated "The primary ocffort new is an the. developmental phase,
rather than the production phas
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he Every public announcement concerning tests at the Nevada
Proving Grounds has indicated that the Ltomic Energy Commission was
retaining the Sniwetok Proving Grounds for possible tests. On
February“18, 1952, the Department of Defense and the atomic Energy
Commission =nnounced "that preparations fcr a new series of tests
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